A Possibility:

   To Mean Right and Still Go Wrong

 

    By A. W. Tozer

 

    For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward

    God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.    -  - 1Peter 2:19

 

        There are areas in our Christian lives where in our

    effort to be right we may go wrong---so wrong as to lead

    to spiritual deformity.

 

       To be specific, let me name a few .  .  .  .  .

 

        When in our determination to be bold, we become

    brazen!  Courage and meekness are compatible qualities.

    Both were found in perfect proportion in Christ, even in

    conflict with His enemies.

 

        When in our desire to be frank, we become rude!

    Candor without rudeness was always found in the man

    Christ Jesus.  The Christian who boasts that he calls a

    spade a spade, is likely to end by calling everything a

    spade.

 

        When in our effort to be watchful we become

    suspicious!  Because there are many adversaries, the

    temptation is to see enemies where none exist, or to

    develop a spirit of hostility to everyone who disagrees

    with us.

 

        When we seek to be serious and become somber!

    Gloominess is a defect of character, and should never be

    equated with godliness.  Joy is a great therapeutic for the

    mind.

 

        When we mean to be conscientious and become

    over scrupulous!  If the devil cannot succeed in destroyingthe conscience, he will settle for making it sick.  I know Christians who live in a state of constant distress, fearing that they may displease God.  They believe this self-torture to be a proof of godliness, but how wrong they are! 

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    Yours in Christ,

      Paul N. F.